I lost my job last week WIBU?

[Looklock]

On Friday my boss sacked me. I had been there for nearly 2 years and worked in a team of 2 women. One of the women W1 was really nice, very outgoing and popular but often let deadlines slip. The other woman W2 slated her every single day, from what she wore to her children's names. She pointed out every error behind her back and was generally very unpleasant to be around cos she never had a nice word to say.

All 3 of us were working to the same promotion but W2 spent every moment planning how to get there. She made our office juniors lives hell and undermined our boss constantly.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago and W1 was off work all week cos her DD had her appendix removed. W2 used this as an excuse to dig out all of W1s work and essentially sabotage it. She changed dates to make it look like she had ignored customers for months and basically made W1 look like she'd really messed up. W2 passed this to the boss and when W1 got back there were lots of changes in place that basically controlled how she worked and she was now under the supervision of W2.

W1 was obviously confused and upset. She could see her work had been tampered with and blamed some juniors. She then asked me what had happened and I answered that W2 had shown her work to the boss because she was concerned. I didn't tell the full story because it was too awkward. W1 was shocked.

I then had a few days off and come back on Friday. My boss called me in and asked why I had dropped W2 in it. I explained and she said W1 and W2 had talked it through and W1 was extremely upset with me for lying. W2 was very hurt and felt like she could never work with me again. This left the boss in a difficult position and because she had two against one she felt the only way to make the situation better was to let me go.

So that was it. I should have stayed out of it all but after nearly 2 years of it all I snapped. I was so sick of W2s behaviour. But now I don't have a job. I had a civil relationship with both of them before that and got on very well with other staff. I also produced the highest figures for our team. I'm so confused by all of it I can't tell anymore if I was BU.

I thought there were procedures such as written warning, verbal warning and suspension before someone could be outright sacked.

I've been there with my manager (not me s colleague) who was under performing was given chances and capability etc, before he was offered to 'resign' or get the sack.

Check your home insurance. If you have legal cover, that covers employment disputes.

It also sounds like a poisonous place to work.

Not within first two years. They can just let you go

I thought there were procedures such as written warning, verbal warning and suspension before someone could be outright sacked.

Not a statutory requirement for anyone with less than 2 years service.

I'm sorry, I don't want to bash you when you're down. It sounds like there was a culture of 'blind eyes' and everyone just let W2 get away with it.

I hope you are never unfortunate enough to work with someone like that again. But if you are, this time you will know to document it, speak to all your colleagues (especially if you suspect that information is being withheld), support other people (like the juniors) who you KNOW are being bullied and unfairly blamed, and report it up the chain if someone is being a bully. You can't just hope that someone else will stand up to bullies -- we all have to.

You say you 'hoped she would get her comeuppance' -- next time you could be that avenging angel!

You've got nothing to lose now but those poor juniors being blamed for all sorts. If I were you I'd now send full disclosure letter to the boss. I'd say that you know they have no reason to believe you but that this is the situation and they should be aware. Your poor customers too.

My DH is encouraging me to write a letter detailing everything but my boss made it so clear my story was worthless I don't know what difference it would make. I don't see a way of moving on without doing something though.

I am manager and even sacking people during probation period where I work is very difficult and procedure has to be followed, HR involved every step etc

As W2 was even falsifying documents, I would (take legal advice instead of advice from me on the internet) and put all the detail in a letter to the CEO, the HR Director, your manager's line manager, and the relevant HR person for your department. Whatever variation makes sense in the organisation.
Then I'd leave that with them because you have no rights under 2 years.

I would get a solicitor to request written confirmation from them that they would not write anything negative and unproven about you when contacted for a reference.

talk to w1..doesn't add up..you are not hearing the whole story . Offer to write a testimony to what happened so she can fight her demotion.

Question: which country are you living, because any advice could be nulled and voided depending on the country (and from my understanding state if in the US) you live. Different rules for different countries. And tbh it is kinda key to the situation.

What Ellisandra just said.

Not being a barrack room lawyer, but we don't know what procedures OPs employers had for dismissal, if they've not followed their own procedures then there could be a claim.

And I gather (from scottish lawyers website) that the period within which you can't bring an unfair dismissal claim is '103 weeks' since there is a presumed 1 weeks notice, which makes up the two year total...do we know where OP lives, how close to 'nearly two years' she'd been working...

At the very least, it would be worth trying to secure a decent reference but that might require legal advice.

Good luck Looklock, sounds like you're well out of it, hope you can get another and better job soon.

Not being a barrack room lawyer, but we don't know what procedures OPs employers had for dismissal, if they've not followed their own procedures then there could be a claim.

That would only be the case if the procedures were contractual, and they very rarely are.

I'm sure Looklock's father would have covered every possibility when considering their situation.

Sorry i should have stated I'm in England.

I would love to know what W2 has said happened and how she told it to W1 but it doesn't look like I'm going to find out. I doubt W1 would speak to me if I reached out.

This is so frustrating.

I do appreciate all of your responses btw

Hi - sorry to hear this. How far are you away from 2 years service? It's worth checking as the notice requirement may take you up to the 2 years. Even if this isn't the case I would suggest appealing against the decision to dismiss you or submit a grievance if they have terminated you without following procedures. It's wrong how they have approached this. ACAS will provide you with some advice by phone too.

Thanks for clarifying the location. I have become very aware that whilst we tend to assume mners are UK based that this is becoming less likely and whilst still in the majority should you have been based elsewhere there would be the potential for bad advice if the assumption was made and incorrect. I hope that you can find a resolution to your tricky situation that is better that it currently stands.

Unfortunately my notice period leaves me one month short of 2 years.

Thank you for all of the advice. This has really broken me. I'm usually quite good at not letting stuff get to me but this has knocked me for six.

I still think you have a case. Procedures don't seem like they've been followed through.

TBH though, the boss sounds shit, as he/she can't control their staff, and isn't willing to listen to any concerns.

You're better off out if it.

I would contact the boss of your boss and explain what's going on.

There is no "case", stop giving the woman bad advice based on what you're company does rather than what the law says.

No procedure needs to be followed with under two years service. Even if (and it's almost never the case) contractual procedures have been broken you still can't bring an unfair dismissal claim, only a breach of contract (wrongful dismissal) claim.

And there is no right to bring a grievance after leaving, so there's really no point doing that, they can (and will) just ignore it.

OP - did they pay your contractual notice period and accrued but untaken holiday? I don't think I've seen that covered.

Does your boss have a boss you can speak to? I'd write it all down, and get any witnesses you can together. Then take it all to whoever you can in a senior position. If you are being sacked you should have the right to appeal that in writing. Good luck op.

I was told I'd get 'what I'm owed' in terms of notice period but annual leave wasn't discussed. I suppose I'll have to wait and see what comes.

My boss doesn't have a boss unfortunately and there is no hr department.

It's hard to let it go but I understand legally I have no rights.

I was sacked in January and it's very hard to defend yourself without coming across as Defensive. I know what OP means when she says Boss had made up her mind in advance and that defending herself felt pointless. I felt exactly like that. Can you change boss's view when they have such a distorted view of you and events, or will they just add 'defensive' to the list of mental charges against you? I felt it was the latter.

I will say OP, after nearly six months I know that I would rather mop up sick than go back to that place.

Please talk to ACAS. While you may not be as protected for less than 2 years working, they will be able to advise you on things like holiday pay etc.